These two architectural capricci can be dated stylistically to the early years of Panini’s career, circa 1716-1718, prior to his admittance into the Academia di San Luca. The figures are very close in execution to a work of similar scale in the Pushkin Museum, Moscow, which shows the Coresus Sacrificing himself to Save Callirhoe (inv. no. Ж-4729). In the first of the present scenes the artist has populated the ornate classical colonnade with the Death of Ananias, a story from the Acts of the Apostles, in which Ananias lies to Saint Peter about money intended for donation to the Apostles and is struck down. In the second Panini has chosen to depict David, Bathsheba and Solomon. Previously the wife of Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba was forced to commit adultery with King David. After Uriah was killed in battle, David married Bathsheba, who went on to give him a son, Solomon, shown here as a young boy.
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An architectural capriccio with Death of Ananias; and An architectural capriccio with David, Bathsheba and SolomonGIOVANNI PAOLO PANINI (PIACENZA 1691-1765 ROME)Estimate: GBP 40,000 - 60,000
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Ananias The canvas is unlined; it is held under tension and remains stable. The painting presents well in natural light. There is a fine pattern of craquelure across the surface with some evidence of past stabilisation to the upper paint layers. Examination under UV light shows scattered retouching. There has been some minor strengthening to the whites and to the outline details of the figures and architectural details. The paint remains stable.
Solomon The painting has been relined; it is held under tension and remains stable. The painting presents well in natural light. The is eveidence of some horizontal lines of restoration to the central grey tones of the architecture. Examination under UV light confirms the aforementioned restoration. There appears to have been a rectangular tear of approximately 5 x 3 cm. to the canvas with an associated web of lines extending from this. There is scattered restoration, notably to the darker details of the lower register and scatterd restoration to the sky. The whites and skin tones have been strengthened. The paint remains stable.
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Lot 153Sale 18875
An architectural capriccio with Death of Ananias; and An architectural capriccio with David, Bathsheba and SolomonGIOVANNI PAOLO PANINI (PIACENZA 1691-1765 ROME)Estimate: GBP 40,000 - 60,000
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